MA Post Professional Degree

Overview

Learning Outcomes

Concentrations

Admission

Program of Study

Course Descriptions

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Program Overview The Master of Arts in Interior Design (MA in ID) is a 81-credit program designed for interior and architectural design professionals currently working within the profession, that seek to acquire advanced expertise in design research, analysis, design of complex interior environments. The program's intent is to create interior design specialists where students select from an area of concentration: IDC Commercial and Intuitional, IDH Healthcare, IDR Residential, or IDS Sustainability. The challenging curriculum is unique as it allows students with two options, to remain active within interior design practice and undertake the degree part-time or undertake the curriculum at full-time status. The program develops student proficiencies through both individual and team based learning, within an "atelier" design studio setting to acquire advanced expertise for ID practice. The Master of Arts in Interior Design program model integrates theory and practice through required coursework in Interior Design Firm Management and Graduate Student Forums reinforcing the primary College mission of concurrent learning. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the program students will: Assimilate highly technical, theoretical, and sophisticated problem solving methods in the development of the design of interior environments. Research, understand, and demonstrate the role and impact upon society that emerging design theories and technologies have on complex interior environments. Assess and synthesize project needs and strategies to operate in and communicate within a collaborative and integrated mode with other design specialist and related professions. Develop and advance current design principles, theories and academic research, and demonstrate a contribution to design practice, education, and society. Develop an understanding, application and specifying furniture, fixtures, finish materials, and environmental systems, controls and regulations to maximize occupant health, welfare, and comfort within interior environments. Develop a global perspective for design including an understanding and application of sustainable strategies that enhance users and planet earth.

Caitlin Flynn '11 MA, Interior Design “Being a graduate of the newly established Master’s Program in Interior Design is an accomplishment that will help me move forward in my career and as an individual. Throughout the curriculum students are encouraged to engage in personal avenues of exploration to help one discover themselves as students, designers, and intellectuals. The numerous out of classroom experiences and community involvement, such as the North Shore CDC LEED housing project and the BE LIKE BRIT Haitian orphanage, enrich the syllabi. Students come from a wide range of background experience and there is a strong focus on peer relationships, allowing students to share their professional knowledge. Knowledgeable faculty focus on the students needs, keeping flexibility in mind.”

Concentration Options

Design Studio Concentration

The Design Studio concentration (Commercial/Institutional, Healthcare, Residential, or Sustainable Interior Environments) id designed to allow students to explore a specific area of design practice in-depth. Students select a studio focus to assimilate a more thorough knowledge base, in both theory and execution, in their preferred field of inquiry. The courses focus on developing ability, knowledge, and applicability to global design issues, human behavior, occupant comfort, and contribution to the built environment. Students are prepared to assume advanced roles within professional design firms or as interior design educators.

Each concentration builds upon critical thinking, design mastery, evidence based research, visual communication, and oral communication expertise expected of practicing professionals. Within the core curriculum courses for both concentrations students will advance their skill sets in aspects of design research, theory, technology applied to professional practice.

Commercial/Institutional Interior Environments

The Commercial Interior Environments Design Studio Concentration focus is on the development of innovative, integrated, and progressive "workplaces." The studio laboratory will test and apply a multidisciplinary approach to research and precedent analysis, integrating human behavior, culture, ergonomics, and environmental psychology to complex workplace environments.

Healthcare Interior Environments

The Healthcare Interior Environments Design Studio Concentration focus is on the interdisciplinary approach to the planning of innovative and state of the art healthcare facilities and healing environments. The design studio is the laboratory for testing and integrating evidence-based design, sustainable bio-design principles, and current medical technical practices, based on science journal publications applied to the planning of sophisticated user friendly healthcare and healing environments.

Residential Interior Environments

The Residential Interiors Design Studio Concentration focus is on the design and development of forward thinking design solutions that address current social, physical, cultural, and psychological needs. The studio laboratory is for testing and the application of innovative design solutions that address current and future residential users' comfort, wellbeing, and energy needs.

Sustainable Interior Environments Concentration

The Sustainable Interior Environments concentration is designed to provide practitioners and design researchers of interior architecture the latest models, information, and technology in sustainable design. The course work focuses on the application and incorporation of current sustainable design principles within all phases of proposed design solutions. The concentration stresses the need for contemporary designers to develop innovative solutions with a global perspective on environmental responsibility that minimizes resource depletion and in no way hinders or compromises the ability of future generations' to meet their needs.

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Admission Criteria for Master of Arts in Interior Design (81 credits)

Admission to a graduate program requires a Bachelor degree from an accredited college. To be considered for admissions, a candidate must submit the following credentials:

• Application form and a $50 application fee
• Statement of professional goals
• Official transcripts of all academic work (a minimum of a Bachelor's degree with a B average)
• Two letters of recommendation, one academic letter of recommendation, and one design professional letter of recommendation
• A Design Portfolio (Optional)
• An admission interview with the director of Interior Design (Recommended)
• TOEFL required for all students for whom English is not a first language; 79 is minimum score for iBT and 550 for the pen and pencil test.

Tuition

The tuition for the 2012-13 academic year is $607 per credit. Additional fees are listed here.

Program of Study

First Year
Fall 2013
ART 510	Visual Art & Cultural History	3 cr.
ART 520	Drawing and Composition	2 cr.
IDI 510	Interior Environments Studio I	3 cr.
ID 525	Media I	3 cr.
ART 530	Foundations of Design	2 cr.
IDI 535	Materials & Specifications	2 cr.
January Intercession
IDI 530	Media II	2 cr.
IDI 537	Lighting Interior Environments	2 cr.
Spring
ART 540	Architecture and Interior Design History	3 cr.
IDI 540	Media III	3 cr.
IDI 515	Interior Environments Studio II	3 cr.
IDI 542	Building Systems & Integrated Design	3 cr.
IDI 545	Design Portfolio	1 cr.
IDI 547	Design Research Seminar	2 cr.
Summer
IDI 560	Internship	2 cr.
IDI 550	Diverse Perspectives in the Built Environment	2 cr.
IDI 555	Professional Practice	2 cr.
IDI 570	Capstone Studio (Healthcare / Institutional)	3 cr.
Total First Year Credits		44 cr.

Second Year
Fall
ID 501	Precedent Studio I	3 cr.
ID 5xx	Technology Elective	3 cr.
*ID 505	Concentration Studio	4 cr.
OR
*ID 510A	Global Studio Concentration	4 cr.
ID 511	Forum I	1 cr.
ID 517	Theory, Criticism, & Methodology	3 cr.
ID 530	Psychology of Place	3 cr.
Winter
ID 503	Precedent Studio II	1 cr.
ID 588	Masters Thesis I (Seminar)	1 cr.
Spring
*ID 515	Concentration Studio	4 cr.
OR
*ID 510B	Global Studio Concentration	4 cr.
ID 512	Forum II 1 cr.	1 cr.
ID 575	Interior Design Firm Management	1 cr.
ID xxx	ID History Elective	3 cr.
ID xxx	ID Elective	3 cr.
ID 589	Masters Thesis II (Written Defense)	3 cr.
Summer
ID 590	Masters Thesis III (Visual Defense)	3 cr.
Total Credits		81 cr.

*Note

Students select a Studio Option (505 and 515) or Global Studio Option (510A and 510B) and an area of concentration from the following concentration options:

Commercial/Institutional Interior Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDC 505/510A, IDC 515

Healthcare Interiors Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDH 505/510A, IDH 515/501B

Residential Interiors Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDR 505/510A, IDR 515/501B

Sustainable Interior Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDS 505/510A, IDS 515/501B

(Thesis Topic sourced from area of concentration)
-Students may substitute "Design Firm Management" with an "Education Practicum"
-ID Electives: Universal Design, Literature and Theory in Sustainability Design, Global 
Sustainable Interior Design Studio, and Advanced Electronic Media
-ID Design History Electives: Modern Furniture Classics, Scandinavian Architecture & 
Interior Design, and Contemporary Architectural Icons

ID Electives for Sustainable Interior Environments Concentration 6 cr. 
Students select 2 courses from 500 or 600 level coursework offerings. 
ID 506 Emerging Materials and Systems
ID 507 Art& Science of Lighting
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 545 Universal Design for the Built Environment
ID 535 Literature and Theory in Sustainable Design 
ID 620 Global Sustainable Interior Design Studio
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons

ID Electives for Design Studio (Commercial/Institutional, Healthcare, Residential)
Concentration Elective 6 cr. 
Students select 2 courses from 500 or 600 level coursework offerings. 
ID 506 Emerging Materials and Systems
ID 507 Art & Science of Lighting
ID 518 Scandinavian Architecture & Interior Design
ID 519 Modern Furniture Classics
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons